For being Volkswagen’s answer to Alfa Romeo (in theory at least), the Germans are sure taking their time to enhance Seat’s lineup with the most potent engines currently available in the group.

Take the Ibiza Sports Tourer (ST) for instance. In Germany, the small station wagon is offered with three petrol units: a 70HP 1.2-liter three-pot, an 85HP 1.4L and a 105HP 1.2-liter TSI, and three diesels: a 75HP 1.2 TDI, a 90HP 1.6 TDI and a 105HP 1.6 TDI.

But better late than never as Seat is preparing an FR version of the Ibiza ST fitted with the same 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged petrol engine with 150-horsepower found in the hatchback model.

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A rather foxy yet clearly irresponsible teenage driver of a Citroen Saxo had British police running in circles –literally- in a chase that took place at the Hams Hall industrial estate near Coleshill, England, last month during a police crackdown on what they call illegal car cruise events.

One of the spectators who had stopped on the side of the road to enjoy the chase filmed the young man’s shenanigans and uploaded the video on Youtube for all to see.

It all started when an unmarked Seat Leon hatchback pursued the driver of the silver Saxo who managed to escape by speeding up, down and even in…reverse on the busy highway.

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Following on from our preview of Seat's latest IBE Concept model, we now have live pictures of the compact sports coupe from the 2010 Paris Motor Show. Improvements over the first IBE Concept, which was shown in Geneva earlier this year, include refinements to the design and technology, while the Paris Show car now also sports an interior.

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Not long ago, we shared the news about some allegedly leaked sketches for numerous future SEAT cars -that may or may not be official- including some that showed a design proposal for an Audi A5 Sportback-like hatch. Now, a member of the Hungarian site 'Hvtm' has taken an A5 Sportback and turned it into a SEAT by restyling the car's nose and rear end as well as the profile. Check out both pictures after the jump and tell us what you think in the comments section below.

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Seat has announced the availability of a new special edition version of its three-door Ibiza SC (Sports Coupe) for the German market. The Ibiza SC Sport Limited comes in a Lamborghini-like "Lumina Orange" finish and only with the not-so sporty 105HP 1.6-liter petrol engine. The production run will be limited to 300 cars.

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Seat is upgrading its Exeo (yes, that's the Spanish-ized version of the previous Audi A4) lineup in Britain with the introduction of two new trim levels called SE Tech and Sport Tech.

Available to order now with first deliveries to take place in the UK this summer, the Tech versions are said to add a total of £3,270 worth of extra equipment £3,270 for just £875 over the price of the standard SE and Sport models.

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The most powerful and quickest-accelerating production Seat to date, the new 265-horsepower Leon Cupra R, will carry a price tag of £25,205 when the orders books open at the firm's UK dealers on Thursday 1 April.

The Cupra R is powered by a VW Group-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot delivering a maximum output of 265HP and a peak torque of 350 Nm at 2,500 rpm that drive the front-wheels through a revised six-speed manual gearbox.

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[Updated with 'Live' Photos from Geneva] And by 'baby' Scirocco, we're not referring to the styling of Seat's Geneva-bound IBE concept car but to the size of the shooting-break-like coupe model that's only 3,780mm long or about 250mm shorter than an Ibiza and almost half a meter shorter than VW's coupe.

Talking about dimensions, Seat's sports study has an unusual breadth of 1,800mm and an overall height of only 1,220mm giving the IBE classic sports car proportions. The short front and rear overhangs, low bonnet and long roof-line along with the 19-inch alloys also help to accentuate the car's sporty looks.

There are no photos of the interior but Seat claims that the IBE is a 2+2 seater with plenty of space for a couple - meaning that the rear seats are for children at best.

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The VW Group threw a special party in Geneva for all its automotive brands the night before the opening of the Swiss international motor show. Those that attended the event had the chance to check out some of the many debuts planned for the Geneva Salon that runs for the public from March 4 to 14.

Among the cars on show were Porsche's 918 Spyder Concept, Bentley's Continental Supersports Cabrio, the Seat IBE Coupe concept, Skoda's Fabia RS, the Audi A1, Lamborghini Gallardo SV, VW's Sharan MPV and Amarok pickup truck and the Bugatti 16C Galibier that's pegged to enter production in the near future. Hit the break to for the complete photo gallery.

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Meet the all-new Seat Ibiza Sport Tourer or ST for short that was unveiled today ahead of its world premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in the beginning of March. The third member of the Ibiza family after the five-door and three-door (SC) models, is a subcompact estate and it will go on sale in most parts of Europe by early summer.

As anticipated, the production version of last year's Frankfurt Show IBZ study has lost all those edgy styling elements such as the hidden rear door handles and the sharper tail lamps that made the concept look so special.

On the outside, up until the C-pillar, the Ibiza ST appears to be identical to the hatchback model while from there aft, the styling brings to mind the Audi A3 Sportback.

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The Volkswagen Group's seemingly sporty Spanish car brand is starting 2010 in the UK with the launch of the Ibiza FR TDI that will be available in both three-door SC and five-door body styles with prices starting at £16,465 RRP.

Available to order now at SEAT dealerships across the UK with deliveries set to begin in March, the diesel-powered extension to the Ibiza FR range boasts a four-cylinder turbocharged diesel pumping out 143 horsepower.

Linked as standard to a six-speed manual gearbox, the TDI accelerates the SC three-door hatch from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 8.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 130mph or 209km/h. The 5-door model's equivalent values are 8.3 seconds and 129mph.

The Ibiza FR hatch, which by the way, is faster than let's say (...) the JDM Honda CR-Z by about 1.5 seconds in the 0-100km/h sprint, records a combined fuel economy in the EU cycle of 62.7mpg UK that translates to 4.5lt/100km and 52.2mpg US, with an official CO2 figure of 119 g/km.

Both bodystyles come equipped with climate control, ESP with SEAT's new XDS electronic 'virtual' limited slip differential and FR detailing inside and out.

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Still trying to find what's so special about this special edition Ibiza other than the '25th Anniversary' logo on the rear hatch? We don't blame you, we did the same and came up with nothing. Apparently, VW Group's subsidiary hasn't any money laying around for fancy-pansy anniversary models so the special edition Ibiza that pays tribute to the model-series' 25th birthday is no more "special" than any other example of the latest generation Spanish supermini.

Of course to justify the "25th Anniversary" logo, SEAT has enhanced the Ibiza's standard equipment with climate control, dark glass, 17 inch alloy rims, parking position door mirrors, passenger airbag disconnection and USB port + Bluetooth. For all this, SEAT asks for an additional €384.27 if you choose the 85HP 1.4-liter gasoline engine and €400 when you combine the package with the 105HP 1.9-lityer TDI diesel. The "special edition" model is available in both three-door (SC) and five-door body styles.

The Ibiza 25th Anniversary will make its premiere at next month's Barcelona Motor Show in Spain where SEAT will prepare an exhibit of the four generations of the Ibiza.

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As is the case with most automakers around the world, 2008 proved to be a very difficult year for Volkswagen's subsidiary, SEAT. Based on Spanish financial reporting rules, SEAT posted a negative operating result for 2008 of €-141 million (2007: €+44 million). Taking into account other income and taxes, the firm's operating result was €+44 million (2007: €+170 million). In terms of car sales, VW's Spanish brand delivered some 368,000 vehicles to customers in the 2008FY compared to 431,000 units in 2007FY. Sales revenue amounted to €4.81 billion (2007: 5.57 billion).

Along with the release of the brand's financial and sale figures, Erich Schmitt, President of SEAT also announced that in 2010, the Ibiza range will be extended with the introdoction of an Estate / Station Wagon version that will bear the ST moniker.

"Customers want attractive, top quality vehicles regardless of whether times are good or bad. That is why we are launching ten new models that suit customers' tastes this year and thereby positioning ourselves for better times," Erich Schmitt pointed out. "And next year we will be launching the third variant of our successful Ibiza model, a wagon version, which we will be producing here in Martorell. This will be the Ibiza ST," he concluded.

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Hot on the (w)heels of its official debut in Barcelona last month, the all-new Ibiza hatch has begun a promotional tour in the UK in a Perspex case aboard a specially-created, SEAT-branded transporter truck.

The tour, which kicked off last Thursday (April 10) from York, includes stops at SEAT dealerships and other key venues along the way. The idea behind SEAT UK’s promotional tour is simply to give Brits a closer view of its new supermini ahead of its market debut that’s set for late July. –One more pic after the jump

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Inspired from the Leon Supercopa racing series, SEAT launched a limited edition version of its Leon Cupra model equipped with a modified 2.0-liter TFSi generating 285 Hp vs the standard car’s 240 HP. Additionally, the Spanish carmaker overhauled the Leon Cupra with Eibach springs, larger brakes and a more aggressive bodykit combined with 18-inch black alloy wheels.

According to SEAT, the Leon Cope Edition can sprint from standstill to 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 5.9 seconds. Unfortunately, even if you are living in Europe, there aren’t many chances that you’ll be able to buy one as the Spanish carmaker will produce a mere 55 units of the car that will be sold for the equivalent of €38,500 or $60,900. –Click through for more pictures

Via: Motorpasion

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